Scandal (song)
Encyclopedia
"Scandal" is a song by the British rock group Queen
. It was released as the fourth single from their 1989 album The Miracle and peaked at #25 in the UK. The single was released in the United States but failed to chart.
but credited to Queen, is about the unwanted attention May and singer Freddie Mercury
received from the press in the late 1980s involving May's divorce and marriage to actress Anita Dobson
and Mercury's growing health problems (he had yet to make it public that he had tested positive for HIV
).
in September 1989.
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. It was released as the fourth single from their 1989 album The Miracle and peaked at #25 in the UK. The single was released in the United States but failed to chart.
Composition
"Scandal", written by Brian MayBrian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
but credited to Queen, is about the unwanted attention May and singer Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
received from the press in the late 1980s involving May's divorce and marriage to actress Anita Dobson
Anita Dobson
Anita Dobson is an English television actress and singer. She gained her highest profile while playing Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders...
and Mercury's growing health problems (he had yet to make it public that he had tested positive for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
).
Recording
May recorded the keyboards and guitars in one take. Mercury's vocal was also done in one take.Music video
The video for the song featured the band performing on stage designed to look like a newspaper and was filmed at Pinewood StudiosPinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
in September 1989.
Chart performance
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch Singles Chart | 12 | 10 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 14 | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 25 | 4 |